The Best Laptops for Travelers: Road Tested

Today’s slimmest, lightest laptops come with radically different price tags and capabilities. To find out just how well they perform—and whether you get what you pay for—we gave demanding digital dynamo and CNTraveler.com Web producer Ricky Marson three machines to road test.

Though they look very much alike, today’s slimmest, lightest laptops come with radically different price tags and capabilities. To find out just how well they perform—and whether you get what you pay for—we gave demanding digital dynamo and CNTraveler.com Web producer Ricky Marson three machines at three radically different price points: the insanely affordable Samsung Chromebook, the mid-range Apple MacBook Air, and the oh-so- pricey Toshiba Kirabook.

Big Picture: The newest MacBook Air has the same sleek, tapered design, sturdy aluminum casing, and light weight as the previous model. The biggest improvement is battery life—now up to 12 hours of use and 30 days of standby time. Basic photo and video editing are possible with iPhoto and iMovie.

Likes: Too many to list. Suffice it to say we love its speed and portability, and the extended battery life makes an already really good thing great.

Big Picture: In a class all its own. You can’t install third-party software (such as Microsoft Office or iTunes), but Google provides its own alternatives for most apps and services. Local storage is minimal, as files live in the cloud, so serious photo and video editing are out of the question.

Likes: Extremely portable, light, quick to power up, and unbelievably affordable. A snap to use if you already rely on Gmail, Google Docs, and all of Google’s other cloud-based services.

Dislikes: Not enough processing power to multitask—you can’t stream music while working on a Google Doc and checking your e-mail. The tinny speakers and lackluster screen make for so-so video viewing.

Takeaway: Despite its limitations, a perfect bare-bones travel laptop at an unbeatable price. Just remember that you get what you pay for and you won’t be disappointed.

Big Picture: Gorgeous high-resolution 13-inch screen and hefty computing power make the Kirabook an excellent high-end portable for Windows 8 users. The speedy processor, fat memory, and pre-loaded software (including ­Adobe Premiere Elements and Photoshop Elements) make this a suitable replacement for a desktop machine.

Likes: The crisp display and responsive touch screen; well-spaced keys have a lot of bounce, making this a comfortable laptop for typing despite the Kirabook’s small footprint. With surprisingly powerful Harman Kardon speakers, this is a superb choice for watching videos as well as listening to music.

Dislikes: The hefty price tag, but it does also buy a two-year warranty and service plan.

Takeaway: Aesthetically pleasing and powerful with plenty of extras; this will induce sticker shock but will not disappoint.